Tanya
Beers
IST571:
Children's Literature Lit Kit
Book: J. Edgar Hoover: Controversial FBI Director by Kevin Cunningham
Lesson
Plan and Selling Tool:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CK8lZVnWGYj0SXOI0WHYUxCnIVjPncxIr2iA5HytdlU/edit
Tanya Beers
IST571: J. Edgar Hoover: Controversial FBI Director by Kevin Cunningham
Title: J. Edgar Hoover: Controversial FBI Director
Author: Kevin Cunningham
Lexile Level: 990L
Grade Level: 5th – 7th grade
Age Range: 10 to 12 years
ISBN #: 0756509971
J. Edgar Hoover was once the director of the FBI who had great power and used it to his advantage,
often garnering controversy in the process. This book details Mr. Hoover’s life, background, and
his contributions to the FBI, both positive and negative.
often garnering controversy in the process. This book details Mr. Hoover’s life, background, and
his contributions to the FBI, both positive and negative.
Lesson for 6th graders:
Students will have a PowerPoint presentation lesson about the FBI (who they are and what they
do). They will then read J. Edgar Hoover: Controversial FBI Director by Kevin Cunningham.
do). They will then read J. Edgar Hoover: Controversial FBI Director by Kevin Cunningham.
Students will also read the article from the website below and use it as a reference in their writing:
“J. Edgar Hoover”, http://www.history.com/topics/j-edgar-hoover.
“J. Edgar Hoover”, http://www.history.com/topics/j-edgar-hoover.
The writing assignment that the students will have with this lesson is to write a 3-4 page paper
about the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover’s background and his involvement in the FBI using the
assigned reading and the assigned article as references. Students should also include how
they feel about the conclusions they came to in their research about J. Edgar Hoover and
the FBI.
about the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover’s background and his involvement in the FBI using the
assigned reading and the assigned article as references. Students should also include how
they feel about the conclusions they came to in their research about J. Edgar Hoover and
the FBI.
After the assignment is submitted, students will engage in this learning activity:
“Fingerprinting Science Activity for Kids” where students will create their own fingerprints
and study the different patterns. *Activity is from this site and is the only part of this lesson
that I did not create myself: https://www.kcedventures.com/blog/fingerprint-science-for-kids.
and study the different patterns. *Activity is from this site and is the only part of this lesson
that I did not create myself: https://www.kcedventures.com/blog/fingerprint-science-for-kids.
Learning Standards:
Common Core Reading Standards for Informational Text Grades 6-12 (Grade 6).
6.1. Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences
drawn from the text.
drawn from the text.
6.2. Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide
a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
6.3. Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and
elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
6.7 Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively)
as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
6.9. Compare and contrast one author’s presentation of events with that of another
(e.g., a memoir written by and a biography on the same person).
(e.g., a memoir written by and a biography on the same person).
a. Use their experience and their knowledge of language and logic, as well as culture,
to think analytically, address problems creatively, and advocate persuasively.
to think analytically, address problems creatively, and advocate persuasively.
Learning Goal:
Students will create a paper integrating all they have learned about J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI.
Learning Objectives:
1. Students will describe what the FBI is, who J. Edgar Hoover is and what they do through
a research paper (Psychomotor).
a research paper (Psychomotor).
2. Students will detail, through a research paper, how they feel about the FBI and J. Edgar
Hoover’s job within the FBI in order to think about how a person’s conscience is an aspect
of decisions they make in their job when those decisions affect other people as well as themselves.
(Affective and Cognitive)
Hoover’s job within the FBI in order to think about how a person’s conscience is an aspect
of decisions they make in their job when those decisions affect other people as well as themselves.
(Affective and Cognitive)
Learning Outcome:
Students will examine, in written form, their opinions about the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, and
many aspects of working for the FBI.
many aspects of working for the FBI.
Works Cited:
Cunningham, Kevin. J. Edgar Hoover: Controversial FBI Director. Compass Point Books, 2005.
Fisher, Jacquie. (2003). Fingerprinting Science Activity for Kids. Retrieved from
https://www.kcedventures.com/blog/fingerprint-science-for-kids.
Foner, Eric and Garraty, John A. “J. Edgar Hoover”. The Reader’s Companion to American
History, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 1991, http://www.history.com/topics/
j-edgar-hoover. The History Channel, 2017. Accessed 15 December 2017.
History, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 1991, http://www.history.com/topics/
j-edgar-hoover. The History Channel, 2017. Accessed 15 December 2017.
New York State Department of Education. (2011). New York State P-12 Common Core Learning
Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy. Retrieved from https://www.engageny.org/
resource/new-york-state-p-12-common-core-learning-standards-for-english-language-arts-and-literacy.
Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy. Retrieved from https://www.engageny.org/
resource/new-york-state-p-12-common-core-learning-standards-for-english-language-arts-and-literacy.
Selling Tool: Sample of J. Edgar Hoover’s work:
